Power District rising: Ground broken for new Rocky Mountain Power headquarters

It wasn't the launch of a much-hoped-for Major League Baseball stadium, but it marked the start of construction in Salt Lake City’s new Power District that developers hope will someday be home to such a structure. 

Officials recently broke ground late on Rocky Mountain Power’s (RMP) new headquarters, destined to be one of the anchors for the multi-use neighborhood in the city's Northwest Quadrant.

Major League baseball in Salt Lake City is years away, but that isn’t slowing the development at the Power District. A major affordable housing development has opened on the north side of North Temple Street, but the RMP building is the first structure underway south of the street in the sports and entertainment district that will stretch downtown Salt Lake City to the west.

The district was created by the Utah Legislature in 2024 when it appointed an authority to oversee the expansion, envisioned and driven by the Larry H. Miller Co. Lawmakers also put in place a tax law that will raise up to $900 million toward a stadium, should it be built.

The Miller group, which has pledged more than $3.5 billion to the 100-acre project, has been busy at the site with remediation of old RMP work yards and other grounds. With the launch of the RMP structure, Miller officials expect the location to be ready for construction of a stadium within a year.

The Rocky Mountain Power headquarters building will be a 10-story, 300,000-square-foot, all-electric campus and is a joint project of SOM, Architectural Nexus and Okland Construction. Inspired by the character of RMP’s historic Gadsby Power Plant, “it translates the district’s industrial past into a modern, efficient and human-centered workplace,” RMP said. “Purpose-built for Rocky Mountain Power, the design responds to the company’s culture, workforce and role in the community. Its efficient structural system and thoughtful exterior form create a high-performance, adaptable environment and establish a distinctive presence on the skyline.”

“Rocky Mountain Power’s current facility was originally built in 1951, and we are excited for an updated building with modern technology and modern tools that will allow our dedicated teams to maintain the level of service that our customers expect, while being a part of this vibrant Power District community,” said Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power.

“The Power District is more than a project; it’s our family and organization’s commitment to Salt Lake City and the state of Utah,” said Steve Miller, chairman of the Larry H. Miller Co., at the recent groundbreaking ceremony that included state, city, RMP and Miller officials. “This development will create thousands of jobs, ignite economic growth, and serve as the gateway neighborhood to Utah’s capital city.”

“We are excited to break ground on the Power District’s first building, a 10-story corporate headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power, that will expand Salt Lake’s skyline to the west,” said Miller CEO Steve Starks. “There is great momentum in this community, and we are grateful for our many partners who share our commitment to developing this world-class sports and entertainment-anchored mixed-use project.”

“Today marks the beginning of a catalytic investment in this neighborhood that this neighborhood has not only wanted but deserved for a very long time,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “It’s part of a growing momentum that we’re seeing all across the west side, where community vision is converging with long planned public improvements and private investment.”

The master plan for the Power District, a document that is fluid in nature, calls for a shovel-ready site with flexible zoning and building options. Currently included are 1.3 million square feet of office space with connected transportation options, amenities, open space and direct access to the airport and downtown; 4,700 housing units, including a mixture of housing types and price points; and 320,000 square feet of retail.

Also in the plans are 300 hotel rooms; at least a mile of riverfront access in a walkable, mixed-use experience; and plenty of trails and green space. And of course, the potential Major League Baseball stadium is top-of-mind.

“At Larry H. Miller Real Estate, we build the places where life takes place,” said Brad Holmes, president of Larry H. Miller Real Estate. “In an area currently devoid of housing, the Power District will add a mixture of housing types and price points, including introducing 2-3-plus bedroom housing options, opportunities for homeownership and family-friendly amenities. This catalytic project allows us to not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also attract opportunities that benefit our great state of Utah with the remediation, enhancement and activation of the Jordan River and its banks.”

Major League Baseball has not announced any expansion plans and is not likely to do so until a new commissioner is named in 2029, but those in the know have put Salt Lake City in the running when such plans are released. The development at the Power District is an indication that Utah is ready when MLB is.

“[The RMP groundbreaking] is a physical symbol that there’s progress being made at a site that would be the perfect location for Major League Baseball,” said Starks. “And so, when baseball gets ready to expand, and the owners decide, the commissioner is ready, they’ll look at this site and they’ll see there’s already momentum.”

The Miller Co. has spearheaded Big League Utah, a coalition of Utah leaders, businesses and communities, that is pushing MLB to bring a professional baseball team to Salt Lake City.